Oakland May Day march for immigrant rights Video and editing: Jonathan Nack

OAKLAND – Workers and immigrant rights activists marched and rallied in Oakland's Fruitvale district today. The May Day activities began at 3:00 pm with a rally at the Fruitvale BART.

A march down International Boulevard led to a rally at Mi Pueblo supermarket in defense of immigrant workers there. The Mi Pueblo chain has announced that it will screen workers' immigration status after its employees tried to organize a union.

The rally at Mi Pueblo was followed by a march to Josie de la Cruz Park for another rally.

The action was organized by the Oakland Sin Fronteras coalition along with participating community organizations. A statement by the coalition said, “we march for May Day and demand just policies and conditions for immigrants and workers... to end the harassment and persecution of immigrant communities by federal agencies and local police.”

Other demands of the Oakland Sin Fronteras coalition, according to its statement, are:

“Halt the use of "no-match" letters to intimidate worker organizing efforts;

Hold elected officials accountable to support immigrant rights;

Money for human needs and services, not militarism and war; and

No more displacement from our homes and communities.”

Oakland's May Day action was part of hundreds of events across the country for immigrant rights, which has become an annual day of mobilization.